The Pearl of the Adriatic and a Journey in the Trace of History
Surrounded by azure waters on the shores of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is a fascinating route not only for its magnificent views, but also for its rich historical and cultural heritage. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with its medieval city walls, narrow cobbled streets, impressive architecture and historical texture, Dubrovnik has been a centre of trade and diplomacy for centuries.
Dubrovnik, From the 14th to the 19th century the capital of the Republic of Ragusa, an independent city-state as the Ottoman Empire. It managed to maintain its independence through strategic alliances with the Ottoman Empire, the Venetians and other European powers. Thanks to its relationship with the Ottomans, it remained a protectorate, paying taxes, but was not conquered.
Today, Dubrovnik attracts not only history buffs but also fans of popular culture. Since the King’s Landing scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed here, the city attracts visitors from all over the world. You can feel like you’re in a medieval kingdom as you walk along the ramparts and remember scenes from the series as you visit Lovrijenac Castle.
But the magic of Dubrovnik is not only limited to the Old Town! You can take a walk on Stradun Street covered with white stones and swim in the clear waters of the Adriatic, Take a day trip to Lokrum Island or go to Korčula Island You canstop by and explore this historical area , which is known as the birthplace of Marco Polo.
In this guide, you will find answers to all your questions such as where to visit in Dubrovnik , which flavours to taste, how to get around and which hidden corners to discover. Get ready to discover the pearl of the Adriatic!
In this list you can find some of our favourite good food stops and highlights from our trip to Dubrovnik:
– Taj Mahal Old Town
– Bistro Tavulin
– LD Garden in Korcula
– Konoba Mate Korcula
– Restaurant Marco Polo
– Konoba Konavoski Komin
– Gianni Gelato
– Bard (Mala buža)
Dubrovnik Old Town and Historical Sites
Nature and Viewpoints
Islands around Dubrovnik
Day trips in the Dalmatians
Day Tours in Neighbouring Countries
Historical Places and Sightseeing
Culture and Art
Accommodation:
Transportation
Sea and Beaches
Food and Drink
Safety and Cautions
The best period to visit Dubrovnik is spring (April – May) and autumn (September – October). Air temperatures are ideal during these periods, You can enjoy the sea and avoid the dense tourist crowds in the summer months.
Yes, Dubrovnik is one of the most expensive cities in Croatia and even in our opinion one of the most expensive cities in Europe, especially in the Old Town.drinking and accommodation prices are quite high.
Different airlines fly directly to Dubrovnik from Turkey. Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is about 20 km from the city centre. Since we travelled from Turkey with our own car, we didn’t need one , but there are a few options for transportation from the airport:
Dubrovnik was one of the most touristic and expensive destinations we travelled in recent years. We can say it was as expensive as Istanbul.
On this trip we visited Dubrovnik Old Town, the surrounding villages and the island of Korčula.
1- Taj Mahal Old Town: Don’t let the name mislead you, this is not an Indian restaurant but a place where you can find Balkan dishes, A restaurant focusing especially on Bosnian cuisine. Since the meat of the region is delicious here , we tried the steak and Bosnian Meze plate. We paid 105.8€ for two people.
2- Bistro Tavulin: This was the place we chose for our first dinner. It is a restaurant where local seafood from the region is used. We tried agnolotti, veal blade shoulder prepared with prawns from the Adriatic Sea. We paid 111€ for two people with starters.
3- LD Garden: This is the bistro of the Michelin starred restaurant on the island of Korcula. Since the kitchen was closed at noon , we only had cocktails. Cocktails were between 12-15€. Lavender negroni ✨
4- Konoba Mate: This restaurant , which we preferred to eat on the island of Korcula It has the coziness and intimacy of places in the villages. It is quite popular as it is also featured in programmes such as Somebody Feed Phill. We tried thesnack platter, famous ravioli and meats. We paid 92.5€ for two people.
5- Restaurant Marco Polo: Named after Marco Polo, who is rumoured to have been born here, this place is located in Dubrovnik Old Town. We tried Dalmatian Prosciutto, Black risotto and Kublai Khan Steak. We paid 124€ for two people with dessert.
6- Konoba Konavoski Komin: The most delicious restaurant we ate at on this trip was in a mountain village near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. You have to book the special dishes one day in advance. Octopus salad and pastitsada were very tasty. We paid 64€ for two people.
7- Gianni: We tried this place by chance, it is located on a narrow street at the end of the marina in Old Town. Two scoops of ice cream ~8€
8 & 9: Bard (Mala buža) & Buža: Located just outside the walls, these two bars are the best options for watching the view. Don’t have too high expectations for drinks. They only work in cash.
For breakfast we tried Holy Burek, ARKA and Soul Kitchen. A simple breakfast is ~25€ per person at these places and both were too bad to recommend. Holy Burek is a small shop that only sells pastries and can be considered for snacks, not overly tasty , but 6€ each.
Get away from the crowds of Dubrovnik and visit history, How about escaping to an island where nature and gastronomy are inter twined? Korčula is one of the most beautiful islands of the Adriatic and it is possible to visit it from Dubrovnik. Since it is not too close , it is not as crowded as Dubrovnik even in high season and you can reach it in 2-2.5 hours. Historical atmosphere, vineyards, with itsbeaches and delicious wines is a great getaway. Here’s an ideal day out onKorčula Island:
🚤 Transport from Dubrovnik to Korčula:
🏰 Korčula Old Town:
📍 Must-See Places:
🍽️ Konoba Mate (Pupnat village):
Konoba Mate , one of the most famous restaurants in Korčula, is famous for its traditional Croatian dishes prepared with local and organic ingredients. This family-run restaurant is particularly known for its homemade pasta and seafood.
It is quite popular as it is also featured in programmes such as Somebody Feed Phill. We tried thesnack platter, famous ravioli and meats. We paid 92.5€ for two people.
📍 How to get there?
Pupnat Village is about 15 minutes drive from Korčula Old Town. Don’t forget to make a reservation.
Alternative:
🏖️ The Most Beautiful Beaches of Korčula:
If you want to explore along the coast by renting a canoe/kayak, You can have a great experience with Korčula Ski Tours.
🌅 Sunset View:
If you are thinking of going to Dubrovnik, here’s what you need to know before you go!
Our next route after Bosnia and Herzegovina was Dubrovnik, one of the most touristic cities of Croatia, another EU country. After a journey lasting about 6 hours, where we saw Mostar and the natural beauties on the way, we arrived at Old Town.
1- If you are looking for a non-touristy, budget-friendly route, Dubrovnik is not for you. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities on the Adriatic coast, but it is expensive and flooded with tourists from all over the world.
2– We can say that the places and hotels we receive service from have become less qualified due to being touristic and high demand. We stayed in the Old Town area and we would not recommend it to anyone. Parking lots within walking distance to the Old Town area are very expensive, you can calculate it as 7€ per hour. The best parking option is the grand parking lot which is 20€ per day and it is 3€ per hour. Most probably due to the irrationality of traveling by car and the high costs, we did not encounter much traffic. Still, there is no need for a car just for Dubrovnik, if possible, come without a car.
3- To get away from the crowds quickly, you can take a boat trip to nearby islands. Like Lokrum, Koločep. Tours of different lengths cost between 30-60€. Of course, not visiting during high season is also an option.
4- Dubrovnik Old Town is really well preserved and impressive. However, climbing up the walls or taking the cable car up to the hills for the view is a bit touristic and unnecessary expense.
5- You can swim anywhere you want on Croatian beaches. Prices for sunbeds and umbrellas are around €20-25, but it is free to throw in your towel and swim. There are many good swimming spots around the Old Town. Plaža Sveti Jakov, Plaža Danče, Beach Šulić are our favorites.
6- For accommodation, we think you should choose the smaller settlements around instead of the Old Town. For example, there are magnificent houses in Zaton, 15-20 minutes away, where you can swim in front of the sea. The prices are more affordable.
7- Another option to get away from the crowds is to go to the less touristic islands. We found Mljet and Korčula to be good options. Nearby islands like Lopud are a bit more crowded, but Korčula, which is two hours away, was much quieter and more beautiful in our opinion.
8- If you are going to visit neighboring countries, you can find our Montenegro recommendations here and our Bosnia and Herzegovina recommendations here.
